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Liverpool 2 – 1 Wolves – Premier League Postmortem

With Liverpool slowly trying to stitch together momentum after a turbulent autumn, this fixture carried far more weight than the league position of the visitors suggested. Wolves arrived bottom, wounded, and low on confidence, yet Anfield knew all too well that these are the kinds of afternoons that have tripped this side up repeatedly this season. For Liverpool, this was about control, professionalism, and proving that recent improvement wasn’t merely fleeting.

First Half

An Anfield crowd that has endured far too many false dawns watched Liverpool begin with patience rather than panic. The tempo was measured, almost conservative, but crucially it was organised. The midfield triangle of Mac Allister, Gravenberch and Curtis Jones circulated possession with purpose, while Florian Wirtz drifted intelligently between the lines, constantly offering angles that Wolves struggled to track.

The opening period wasn’t spectacular, but it was mature and almost dominating. Liverpool resisted the urge to force the issue, instead trusting their structure to wear the visitors down. Wolves sat deep, compact and physical, but their resistance began to crack as Liverpool’s movement improved. Hugo Ekitike was set free by a wonderful Florian Wirtz through ball, before his delicate curling effort rebounded off the post.

The breakthrough came from exactly the kind of moment that has been missing this season. Jeremie Frimpong’s forward thrust created uncertainty, Ryan Gravenberch timed his run perfectly, and the opener felt like a release. Barely a minute later, Liverpool struck again. This time it was Wirtz, ghosting into space and finishing with composure after excellent work from Hugo Ekitike to scamper away from the visitors. Two goals in quick succession transformed the mood inside the ground and should, in theory, have ended the contest.

Second Half

The restart brought a familiar and frustrating pattern. Instead of building on their advantage, Liverpool retreated into themselves. The intensity dropped, distances grew, and Wolves sensed an opportunity. Santiago Bueno’s goal early in the half changed the entire complexion of the match, exposing once again Liverpool’s inability to kill games when they are in control.

From that moment on, the match became uncomfortable. Wolves pressed higher, competed more aggressively for second balls, and forced Liverpool into rushed clearances and poor decisions. The home side still dominated possession, but it was sterile and nervous rather than authoritative.

This was where Florian Wirtz’s influence became most evident. While others tightened up, he remained composed, offering an outlet and slowing the game when Liverpool desperately needed calm. Curtis Jones continued to manage the tempo intelligently, and Ekitike’s off-ball work helped relieve pressure, but the lack of ruthlessness was glaring.

Liverpool saw the game out, but not without anxiety. Wolves had moments, Alisson was required to remain alert, and what should have been a comfortable win ended with collective relief rather than celebration.

Final Thoughts

This was another performance that perfectly encapsulates Liverpool’s current reality. The first half showed structure, clarity and genuine quality. The second exposed lingering fragility, a lack of killer instinct, and an ongoing inability to dominate games for ninety minutes.

Three points matter. The climb toward the top four continues. But against stronger opposition, this second-half drop-off will be punished far more severely. The signs of progress are there, yet so too are the warning lights.

For now, Liverpool move on — encouraged, but far from convinced.

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Steven Smith’s Score Prediction:

Liverpool 2 – 1 Wolves

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